Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1887-06-19
thin G. A R.
A ROusing Nesting Held by Veterans, Last
Night
YHB CONFEDERATE FLAG INCIDENT.
A Resolution Relative to the Presidents
Action.
SgRYGYIYESEETIMEETEXISTI

Of the meeting, as previously
was 10 have q general discussion upon
matters of interest to old soldiers generally,
particularly 10 devise some means by
which local interest in the G.. A. K. might
be revived, but there is no doubt u large
Of the attendance was induced by
the expectation that some action would be
taken regarding the Confederate flag incl
dent. Among those present were ABOUT
twenty-five members of the Ladies Re
lief Corps Commander Crago presided.
Upon calling those present to order,
Commander Crago stated the object Of the
meeting. and in so doing he referred TO the
fact that there were q large number OF old
in the community who were not
members of the G. A. r., and
thought il would be q good
thing for all concerned if they would
come with the fold. He thought interest
reyiving in the State at this time, and
he wanted to help the matter on. The
members of the old Post at MOundsyille
had taken steps to reOrganize and get back
their charter, and an application had also
been received from Charleston, where there
were enough soldiers to make n OF the
largest posts in the State. The coming re-
union was referred to by Commander
Crago, and he urged that in view OF the
near approach of that event, it was very
desirable that the veterans be well organ
lied and stand we'll in line.
Comrade W. s. Meek made some stirring
remarks in the same line. In the course
of his address TO those present, he took oc-
easion to emphasize the assertion that the
G, A. X. was not q Republican political
organization. 1t took no part in politics
and did not intend to, but this, he said,
would likely 90 for nothing, because a
prejudice once existing, was q hard thing
to uproOt. He said two things during the
past two weeks had called the attention
of the public very forcibly to the G.. A. K.
One of them vas the proposed visit OF the
President to st. Louis, and the other was the
order in relation to the Confederate flags. In
relation to both Of these things MI. Meek
spoke in q very conservative way. Allud-
ing to the order concerning the flags, the
speaker said that while the action of the
President had aroused criticism in some
quarters, he, for one, was willing to be-
lieve the Executive had but erred, and
he felt inclined to pat him on the back for
his prompt resembling of the order. Com
rade Meek then went on to explain the
objects and hopes of the e. A K. at length,
and talked in q very interesting manner
He closed by calling on any old soldier pres
ent, not yet in the order, TO state why he
was nota G. A. K. man. This invitation
was emphasized by Commander Crago.
In response to this invitation several
gentlemen made remarks equally interest
i. 9 with those outlined above.
Commander CragO then read for the in
formation of those present the draft Of a
pension bill prepared by the Pension Com
mittee of the q. A. K. He announced
that it was read at this time merely for
general information, and that at the next
meeting of the local posts it would he
ayaln read, when the members would be
called upon to vote for or against the
measure, which vote, taken as an express
sion ofopiniOn of the rank and file, would
be read to the National Meeting ut st,
Louis. Those present discussed the bill
for some time, and there was a pretty
general feeling that the pension of Sl2 per
month was too small. 1t was thought $40
per month would be nearer the right thing.
Finally, on motion of Post Commander
Robb, the matter was referred to a COM
mittce of three, consisting of Comrades
Robb, Bags and Irwin.
Just at this point Commander Crago got
up and said he was satisfied a good many
those present, he had no doubt, mad cOme
expecting the subject of the Confederate
flags would come up. He would like to
know j fthoSe present approved of giving
the flags (crieS of "Non'). He believed
il would have been an insult to every men,
Der of the Union army to have given up the
flags, and he also felt it would be m insult
to those from whom they were taken. he
applauded the President for having the
manhood to rescind the order after seeing
that he was in the wrong. His course in
this regard was TO be commended. He Of
fered the following resolution
ReSOlred, That it is the sense of the menu
bers of j. W. Holiday Post, Department
of West Virginia G. A. r., and other COM
ndes assembled with us that we most en-
phatically oppose the Surrendering to the
States lasly in rebellion, the flags cap
tured by the boys in blue-belieying it to
be an insult to them, and an insult also to
those from whom they were taken. They
be preserved in the archives OF the
not to engender strife, or to tlaunt
in the faces of q brave, though conquered
foe, but tOteaeh our children and children's
children what it cost to save the nation,
and that treason may be made SO Odious
that for such q strife to occur again may
he made forever an imp~oSsibility. And
we believe that should the time
come to give up those flags, the prop
to do 20 should come first from
those who captured them, or at least those
who rerc and are in full and perfect sym
patty with the u for which We fought
and for which so many died.
This motion caused q good deal of dis
cussiOn, in the course OF which the idea
was kept prominent that the turning over
of the flags would be an insult to soldiers
South as well as North. The suggestion
was made, also, that if they must be dis
posed Of, they should be burned. Several
speakers disclaimed any animoSity for the
of the Confederacy-On the con-
trary they held out to them the most cor
dial fesliRgS-but the Confederate flags, as
representing reasonable cause, were the
things objected to, and the speakers thought
they were the legitimate trophies of hOnor-
able conflict, and should remain in the Gus
tody Of the government. They were not in
Of blottipg out any of the history
which had been made.
There was a disposition on the part Of
some o thOse present to reject the resolu-
lions, and adopt something of an essentially
red hot and peppery nature, among those
favor Of this being C. J. Rawllng, G.
W. Bags, and Captain Robb, but the
more moderate counsels of the large ma
.Ority prevailed aud the resolution was
The meeting then resumed the discus
sion of the good of the ORDER and the
Reunion, adjourning sbout ten o'clock.
PUBLIC SENTIMENT IN WHEELING.
The eminent good sense and conservative
spirit of the people Of Wheeling has been
shown in q very marked degree during the
past three or four days. The Confederate
iag incident has been almost uni
looked upon as q case in which the
was led to give his assent to q
project set on foot by sahordiuates, with
out giving the matter careful personal ex-